Skoda Laura [2005-2009] User Reviews

Dear Probable Buyers!

I understand how excited you will be if you are looking to buy a new car. I bought a skoda Laura Ambient for myself ealry June 2008, from Gurudev Motors, Chennai. After spending 15 lakhs for a car, I definitely expect a very prompt, professional, reliable and concerned after sales service. But surprise surprise !!!

It started with the delivery of my RC book which took them 50 days to arrange. I called up the sales rep. Mr. Kumaran who sold me the car, and the showroom manager Mr. Vijay, more than 20 times over a period of 25 days or so. They never called back. Never. I had to call them again and again to check on it. And they refuse to come and deliver it to my office now that they have it. Simply refusing. So much of after sales service from the showroom.

It was just the begining of the humiliation part with after sales service. My car was hit and had to be sent to garage.

T R A U M A is the best possible word. Seeing my new car hit wasnt enough that I had to go through what happened next.

It wasnt any big accident and the work was suppose to take not more than one week. Since I was travelling, i took the delivery after 18-20 days. And was more than shocked when they delivered the car.

Mind you, my car was one month old and hasnt even done 1000kms. The whole interior of the vehicle was stained like it was a 5 year old badly maintained car. There were scratch marks and small dents in at least 5 places. Paint job was horrible and I dont think they even tried to polish it. Totally I had written down 15 complains after seeing the car. The car was sent back and was suppose to be delivered in a day.

Of course it wasnt delivered on time and there was no call from the workshop apologising or informing the same. In fact i had to call them often to check what was happening. The car came back next evening and to my surprise, I returned the car back because it still had 15 complains!

The car right now is in the garage and they say they need 2 more days. I have written to skoda customer care, called them, and also sent emails to the dealer. Almost a day gone, and I still havent heard from any of them. The only person who called is the service manager of the workshop, who I have been in touch with for last 25 days. And he doesnt seem to be much worried about the problem anyways. Looks like as they say in Bollywood, the only resort I am left with is praying, that I get my car back in a good condition. Cant add 'on time' now even in my prayers, can I ?

Out of the 2 months i have owned the car, one month it has spent in garage for a small job. I had to rent out a cab for a few days spent thousands on them.

I would have thought that a brand like Skoda would dare having a professional network with people able to do their job properly, to avoid me having to send my car as many times as I did. As you may know the reputation of a brand also relies on the service it provides, and I have rarely witnessed such a poor and appalling performance. I can’t believe that Skoda staff finds it acceptable to send back a car that was in state as revolting as the one I got back

To wrap it up, i will tell you that its a nice car. I bought it because i liked the styling and the driving pleasure it offered. But please please dont ever think of buying it if you are the one who looks for professional after sales service. Skoda think its professional to rely on one dealer in a city like chennai. Skodas professionalism is only towards its rotten dealers and NOT the buyers. Even if i would never want to go back to gurudev motors, i will still have to go there for my next service. Its humiliating and I am worried what will they do to my car. I have also experienced the toyota and honda  after sales service (also ford / hyundai / maruti / chevorlet). Not that they are perfect, but its never been anythign so bad.

If you want to know anythign else in more detail about the same, feel free to email me.

Rohan

Bad service eats up all the prosService Back up which will humiliate you

Exterior The exterior of the car is well built, being skoda know for it. The shape and upgradations are good. You get some good features like Head lamp washer but it also lacks some required features like Electronic foldable Mirriors.  Overall good package on the Extrior front.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) You get ample space with this car, any long journey with 6 to Baggages you neeed not worry at all. One great thing about this car (L&K) is you get almost all the required features at a reasonable price. Seat Heaters are really wonderful. The car has got good comfort in front and back seat. Some features like Cruise Control give problem (it does not work). I got it repaired couple of times but not that great. The wrost part of this car is its Air Conditioning, it does not cool properly and its compressor needs to be changes every 2 years ( Rs.40,000 cost of a compressor) . I think skoda needs to learn some thing from Maruti - a low maintenance and mind blowing AC.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox The Engine of Laura i found it a bit under powered, it should have been atleast 140  BHP ( Offered in New  Laura Automatic) becaue of the heavy weight the same requires the more power. The drive is smooth, gear Changing is again swift but again Skoda has a big problem of Clutch Plate. I had to change clutch Plate twice again every change costed me approx Rs.40 K. We have other Hyundai and Mitsubhishi cars that have been driven for approx 1.5 lacs kms but not a single cluth plate problem was encountered.This is not all, if your car crosses 1 Lac Km the you need to change your Turbo this would cost you around Rs.1 Lac. Then comes the turn of Timming Belt which would cost You Rs. 30k.

The Mileage that I usually got inside city was 12.5km/ L and on highways aprox 14.5 Km/L.

Ride Quality & Handling Ride quality and Hndling of a car is really good.

Final Words If you are ready to spend approx Rs.4 to Rs.5 per Km as a maintenance cost then its a really nice car to buy. You get the premium feeling while driving but you just get fed up with the recurring bills.

Areas of improvement Skoda if wants to retain there market share they need to work upon the maintenance related issues, offer better spare parts with the car (Compressor, Clutch Plate, Turbo). They should may be increase the car cost by Rs.50 K but should atleast cover the maintenance for 5 years. Otherwise your pocket starts bleeding.

Best Drivability, grip & featuresHigh Maintenance Cost, Electronic problems

Have had this car for 3 weeks now and I superb. A real stunner with its new colors. The car has been stripped down somewhat but now fits into  the budget of a segment below.

Ride comfort and drive quality are very good. It feels connected to the road and is very responsive. Good grear shift that is smoother than many petrols. Nifty cubby holes and good sound system too..    

Had a good dealre experience till now, given that they have bad reviews in lots of places.

Fuel economy, looks and build quality.rear legroom somewhat less.

Engine is very good.

Breaking is very good

AC is OK

Very good features  like parking sensor,rain sensor, dim light sensor, tyre pressure sensor and sun roof etc.

Tyre life is average but pick up and automatic gear features are excellent.

 

Good fuel economy,Good Breaking,roomyTyres life 30000kms max.,servicing slightly expensive,

The new gen octie was one of the car's i was looking forward to & it was finally launched with a queer name & a shocking price of 18 lakh , now 18 lakh is more than the ACCORD which is a class larger than the laura . Yet the laura has sold largely due to it's fantastic 105 bhp pumpduse motor & it's DSG auto'box. But the main reason for the laura's success is that people wanted a luxo diesel car in the 15-20 lakh range & innovative features like parkatronic sensor's helped  . Skoda have launched a new cheaper variant by cutting some features at 15 lakhs , its the one to buyfantastic mileage, looks, features , auto 'box,poor rear seat space, price ,

I have noticed that for a car of this price range, the air conditioner is not at all good. Maybe the A/C has not been tropicalised for Indian conditions.

Again though the pick-up and pulling is fair enough on the road, the engine may have been a tad under-powered. I have encountered problems when trying to climb even a mildly steep incline, when the car has lost momentum(ie during a stop-and-climb situation)

Good value for money, considering the features. Sturdy carEngine noisy, A/C is not good

Exterior Exteriors are nice . I thinks that's why it is selling in india.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Very poor and dull interiors. The rear seat is so cramped and there is no rear seat comfort. I would suggest to buy Honda City which has a better seat that Laura. Rear seat has no leg room and seats are hard as stone, so upright that it start to pain your spine just in few KMs. Funny part is that driver do no realise the jerks he is giving to back seat passenger as he is very confortable in front. Poor audio system with no control on steering or not even a Remote control, No blue tooth .

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Engine is good, good fuel economy but slow response from gear box

Ride Quality & Handling Ok Driving pleasure but poor at back seat.

Final Words I think i have made a mistake in buying this car and would not suggest to anyone . Its just a gimmick from out side but very poor car . One should consider Toyota Altis - Deseil instead.

Areas of improvement All car are coming with blue tooth, control in steering and at least audio remote control. But this car has NONE. Back seat is so bad that I am thinking to sell off my new car (Laura) . Overall its a poor car with no comfort kept in mind by these Chezh desigener. They are confused thats why created such a poor car. Service Centers : One must visit the service center AUTO BHAN in Mumbai - Severi . Only by one one can decide that they dont want this car.

Alaas I would have visited this service station before buying this car .. Laura - Skoda.

Good for DriverRear Seat

this car had recently reduced its price upto 2 lacs and still it is shown more in ur price lst i m talking about laura elegence which the skoda india has launche recentlyit has got good style look and its very best part is its mileage and the car runs good in ruff turnsgood interiors but its space at rear seat is very less its less then hyundai getz

i think more space need in dash board if we pick paper in there than where we pick cold botel and other think and i also think car need litel more up from road . company alloy is average and give chance to coustmer to fit there own choice music syestamfuel ecnomy good but much noisy and not too cool in warm daysinterior good but need more spase in front dash board three peopel feel tight in rear